Wilbraham Public Library: LibraryReads: February 2026

February 2026

"The colonists of New Sonora have spent decades settling the land when the gate to Earth finally opens. Looking forward to a greater connection to the rest of the universe, they instead get an eviction action led by Earth where bored Earthers use AI soldiers from the comfort of their homes. Oliver and his friends fight to protect the land they colonized with farm equipment and ingenuity."

Jessi Leister, Enoch Pratt Free Library, MD
NoveList read-alike: Interstellar MegaChef by Lavanya Lakshiminarayan

Her Last Breath
by Taylor Adams

"Two friends get far more than they bargained for when they decide to explore a cave together in this fast-paced page turner. This unrelentingly tense read combines the heart-pounding, claustrophobic terror of navigating tight tunnels and turns with the added horrors of being stalked by a killer. Thriller fans, take note!"

Mara Bandy Fass, Champaign Public Library, IL
NoveList read-alike: The Drift by C.J. Tudor

Cleopatra: A Novel
by Saara El-Arifi

"This absolutely stunning novel weaves historic facts into a love story. Readers will see Cleopatra's life through her eyes as she ascends the throne of Egypt. They will watch the young Pharoah battle with siblings and see her fall for a love parallel to her love of country. This moving story set across time and a landscape of destruction will cut readers deep."

Andrea Galvin, Mt. Pulaski Public Library, IL
NoveList read-alike: Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff

This Is Not About Us: Fiction
by Allegra Goodman

"In a series of linked stories, we follow three branches of one family as they maneuver their way around the pitfalls of living. This is a portrait of a group of people that come together, drift apart, and try to find a way back, as many families attempt to do."

Donna Ballard, LibraryReads Ambassador, NY
NoveList read-alike: Strangers and Cousins by Leah Hager Cohen

Keeper of Lost Children
by Sadeqa Johnson

"Inspired by true events, this story explores the reverberating impact of the actions of an Army wife who facilitated the adoption of mixed race babies fathered by servicemen in Germany during WWII, finding them loving homes with Black families in the United States. Perfect for book clubs or readers who enjoy uncovering lesser-known historical events."

Lori Hench, Baltimore County Public Library, MD
NoveList read-alike: Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Kin: A Novel
by Tayari Jones

"It's amazing the different roads two lives can take, even when growing up in very similar circumstances. While the story is set long ago, the situations seem as if they could happen today. The feelings, reactions, and things the characters long for -- belonging, acceptance, and love -- are all timeless. Readers will be thinking about these characters for a long time."

Robin B., Pierce County Library, WA
NoveList read-alike: Sula by Toni Morrison

This Book Made Me Think of You
by Libby Page

"After Tilly's husband dies, she discovers he had purchased a dozen books for her to pick up each month from a beloved bookshop owned by Alfie. Each book brings gradual healing, new friends, and a feeling of wholeness. The books (and Alfie!) make for a truly wonderful reader experience. Your to-read pile will surely grow from the recommendations!"

Crystal Faris, Kansas City Public Library, MO
NoveList read-alike: Pack Up the Moon by Kristan Higgins

Trad Wife
by Saratoga Schaefer

"Influencer Camille has it all: a loving husband and a dream house, as long as she obeys his word. If only she had a baby, her husband wouldn't be pulling away. But nothing happens, until she makes a wish at a demonic well. Funny yet sad, this horror novel is commentary on social media, conservative families, and the power men try to wield over women."

Judy G. Sebastian, Eastham Public Library, MA
NoveList read-alike: Tantrum by Rachel Eve Moulton

The Red Winter
by Cameron Sullivan

"A (nearly) immortal, his demon, and a succubus walk into a werewolf story. The right mix of humor, heat, history, religion, and mythology combine to make this a unique and compelling queer historical fantasy debut. (The footnotes!) Here’s hoping that there are more adventures of Professor Sebastian Grave in our future."

Ann Finstad, Glencoe Public Library, IL
NoveList read-alike: The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

The Halifax Hellions
by Alexandra Vasti

"These twin sisters are women of some infamy, purely because they shirk the rules and conventions of the day. Margo, a whirlwind of chaos and joy, and Matilda, the more staid and artistic of the two, are witty and wonderfully drawn. Readers who like spicy Regency romance will be delighted."

Nicole Guerra-Coon, Morrill Memorial Library, MA
NoveList read-alike: A Week to Be Wicked by Tessa Dare

Find more great reading recommendations in NoveList!